SPIRJT    OF 
CHRJSTAVAS 


VAN 
DYKE 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF 
CAUFOftNIA 

SAN  DIEGO 


THE 

SPIRIT  OF  CHRISTMAS 


BY 
HENRY    VAN    DYKE 


NEW  YORK 

CHARLES   SCRIBNER'S   SONS 
1905 


Copyright,  1905,  by  Charles  Scribners  Sons 
Published,  October,  1905 


The  Trow  Press,  New  York 


CONTENTS 

A  DREAM-STORY  PAGE 

THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 3 

A  LITTLE  ESSAY 

CHRISTMAS-GIVING  AND  CHRISTMAS-LIVING   .     33 

A  SHORT  CHRISTMAS  SERMON 

KEEPING  CHRISTMAS 45 

TWO  CHRISTMAS  PRAYERS 

A  CHRISTMAS  PRAYER  FOR  THE  HOME     .     .     51 
A  CHRISTMAS  PRAYER  FOR  LONELY  FOLKS  .     56 


A   DREAM-STORY 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

IT  was  the  hour  of  rest  in  the  Coun- 
try Beyond  the  Stars.  All  the  silver 
bells  that  swing"  with  the  turning  of 
the  great  ring  of  light  which  lies 
around  that  land  were  softly  chim- 
ing; and  the  sound  of  their  commo- 
tion went  down  like  dew  upon  the 
golden  ways  of  the  city,  and  the 
long  alleys  of  blossoming  trees,  and 
the  meadows  of  asphodel,  and  the 
curving  shores  of  the  River  of  Life. 
At  the  hearing  of  that  chime,  all  the 
angels  who  had  been  working  turned 
to  play,  and  all  who  had  been  playing 
gave  themselves  joyfully  to  work. 
Those  who  had  been  singing,  and 
[3] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

making  melody  on  different  instru- 
ments, fell  silent  and  began  to  listen. 
Those  who  had  beer  walking  alone 
in  meditation  met  together  in  com- 
panies to  talk.  And  those  who  had 
been  far  away  on  errands  to  the 
Earth  and  other  planets  came  home- 
ward like  a  flight  of  swallows  to  the 
high  cliff  when  the  day  is  over. 

It  was  not  that  they  needed  to  be 
restored  from  weariness,  for  the  in- 
habitants of  that  country  never  say, 
"I  am  tired."  But  there,  as  here,  the 
law  of  change  is  the  secret  of  happi- 
ness, and  the  joy  that  never  ends  is 
woven  of  mingled  strands  of  labour 
and  repose,  society  and  solitude,  mu- 
sic and  silence.  Sleep  comes  to  them 
not  as  it  does  to  us,  with  a  darkening 
of  the  vision  and  a  folding  of  the 
wings  of  the  spirit,  but  with  an  open- 
[4] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

ing  of  the  eyes  to  deeper  and  fuller 
light,  and  with  an  effortless  outgoing 
of  the  soul  upon  broader  currents  of 
life,  as  the  sun-loving  bird  poises  and 
circles  upward,  without  a  wing-beat, 
on  the  upholding  air. 

It  was  in  one  of  the  quiet  corners 
of  the  green  valley  called  Peacefield, 
where  the  little  brook  of  Brighthopes 
runs  smoothly  down  to  join  the  River 
of  Life,  that  I  saw  a  company  of 
angels,  returned  from  various  labours 
on  Earth,  sitting  in  friendly  converse 
on  the  hill-side,  where  cyclamens  and 
arbutus  and  violets  and  fringed  or- 
chids and  pale  lady's-tresses,  and  all 
the  sweet-smelling  flowers  which  are 
separated  in  the  lower  world  by  the 
seasons,  were  thrown  together  in  a 
harmony  of  fragrance.  There  were 
three  of  the  company  who  seemed  to 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

be  leaders,  distinguished  not  only  by 
more  radiant  and  powerful  looks,  but 
by  a  tone  of  authority  in  their  speech 
and  by  the  willing  attention  with 
which  the  others  listened  to  them,  as 
they  talked  of  their  earthly  tasks,  of 
the  tangles  and  troubles,  the  wars  and 
miseries  that  they  had  seen  among 
men,  and  of  the  best  way  to  get  rid 
of  them  and  bring  sorrow  to  an  end. 
"The  Earth  is  full  of  oppression 
and  unrighteousness,"  said  the  tall- 
est and  most  powerful  of  the  angels. 
His  voice  was  deep  and  strong,  and 
by  his  shining  armour  and  the  long 
two-handed  sword  hanging  over  his 
shoulder  I  knew  that  he  was  the 
archangel  Michael,  the  mightiest  one 
among  the  warriors  of  the  King,  and 
the  executor  of  the  divine  judgments 
upon  the  unjust.  "The  Earth  is  tor- 
[61 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

mented  with  injustice,"  he  cried,  "and 
the  great  misery  that  I  have  seen 
among  men  is  that  the  evil  hand 
is  often  stronger  than  the  good  hand 
and  can  beat  it  down. 

"The  arm  of  the  cruel  is  heavier 
than  the  arm  of  the  kind.  The  unjust 
get  the  better  of  the  just  and  tread  on 
them.  I  have  seen  tyrant  kings  crush 
their  helpless  folk.  I  have  seen  the 
fields  of  the  innocent  trampled  into 
bloody  ruin  by  the  feet  of  conquer- 
ing armies.  I  have  seen  the  wicked 
nation  overcome  the  peoples  that 
loved  liberty,  and  take  away  their 
treasure  by  force  of  arms.  I  have 
seen  poverty  mocked  by  arrogant 
wealth,  and  purity  deflowered  by 
brute  violence,  and  gentleness  and 
fair-dealing  bruised  in  the  wine- 
press of  iniquity  and  pride. 

[7] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

"There  is  no  cure  for  this  evil,  but 
by  the  giving  of  greater  force  to  the 
good  hand.  The  righteous  cause  must 
be  strengthened  with  might  to  resist 
the  wicked,  to  defend  the  helpless,  to 
punish  all  cruelty  and  unfairness,  to 
uphold  the  right  everywhere,  and 
to  enforce  justice  with  unconquer- 
able arms.  Oh,  that  the  host  of  Heav- 
en might  be  called,  arrayed,  and  sent 
to  mingle  in  the  wars  of  men,  to 
make  the  good  victorious,  to  destroy 
all  evil,  and  to  make  the  will  of  the 
King  prevail! 

"We  would  shake  down  the  thrones 
of  tyrants,  and  loose  the  bands  of  the 
oppressed.  We  would  hold  the  cruel 
and  violent  with  the  bit  of  fear,  and 
drive  the  greedy  and  fierce-minded 
men  with  the  whip  of  terror.  We 
would  stand  guard,  with  weapons 
[8] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

drawn,  about  the  innocent,  the  gen- 
tle, the  kind,  and  keep  the  peace 
of  God  with  the  sword  of  the 
angels !" 

As  he  spoke,  his  hands  were  lifted 
to  the  hilt  of  his  long  blade,  and  he 
raised  it  above  him,  straight  and 
shining,  throwing  sparkles  of  light 
around  it,  like  the  spray  from  the 
sharp  prow  of  a  moving  ship.  Bright 
flames  of  heavenly  ardour  leaped  in 
the  eyes  of  the  listening  angels;  a 
martial  air  passed  over  their  faces  as 
if  they  longed  for  the  call  to  war. 

But  no  silver  trumpet  blared  from 
the  battlements  of  the  City  of  God; 
no  crimson  flag  was  unfurled  on 
those  high,  secret  walls;  no  thrilling 
drum-beat  echoed  over  the  smooth 
meadow.  Only  the  sound  of  the  brook 
of  Brighthopes  was  heard  tinkling 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

and  murmuring  among  the  roots  of 
the  grasses  and  flowers;  and  far  off 
a  cadence  of  song  drifted  down  from 
the  inner  courts  of  the  Palace  of  the 
King. 

Then  another  angel  began  to  speak, 
and  made  answer  to  Michael.  He,  too, 
was  tall  and  wore  the  look  of  power. 
But  it  was  power  of  the  mind  rather 
than  of  the  hand.  His  face  was  clear 
and  glistening,  and  his  eyes  were  lit 
with  a  steady  flame  which  neither 
leaped  nor  fell.  Of  flame  also  were 
his  garments,  which  clung  about  him 
as  the  fire  enwraps  a  torch  burning 
where  there  is  no  wind ;  and  his  great 
wings,  spiring  to  a  point  far  above 
his  head,  were  like  a  living  lamp  be- 
fore the  altar  of  the  Most  High.  By 
this  sign  I  knew  that  it  was  the  arch- 
angel Uriel,  the  spirit  of  the  Sun, 

[10] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

clearest  in  vision,  deepest  in  wisdom 
of  all  the  spirits  that  surround  the 
throne. 

"I  hold  not  the  same  thought,"  said 
he,  "as  the  great  archangel  Michael; 
nor,  though  I  desire  the  same  end 
which  he  desires,  would  I  seek  it  by 
the  same  way.  For  I  know  how  often 
power  has  been  given  to  the  good, 
and  how  often  it  has  been  turned 
aside  and  used  for  evil.  I  know  that 
the  host  of  Heaven,  and  the  very 
stars  in  their  courses,  have  fought  on 
the  side  of  a  favoured  nation;  yet 
pride  has  followed  triumph  and  op- 
pression has  been  the  first-born  child 
of  victory.  I  know  that  the  deliverers 
of  the  people  have  become  tyrants 
over  those  whom  they  have  set  free, 
and  the  fighters  for  liberty  have  been 
changed  into  the  soldiers  of  fortune. 
[11] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

Power  corrupts  itself,  and  might 
cannot  save. 

"Does  not  the  Prince  Michael  re- 
member how  the  angel  of  the  Lord 
led  the  armies  of  Israel,  and  gave 
them  the  battle  against  every  foe, 
except  the  enemy  within  the  camp? 
And  how  they  robbed  and  crushed 
the  peoples  against  whom  they  had 
fought  for  freedom?  And  how  the 
wickedness  of  the  tribes  of  Canaan 
survived  their  conquest  and  over- 
came their  conquerors,  so  that  the 
children  of  Israel  learned  to  worship 
the  idols  of  their  enemies,  Moloch, 
and  Baal,  and  Ashtoreth? 

"Power  corrupts  itself,  and  might 
cannot  save.  Was  not  Persia  the  de- 
stroyer of  Babylon,  and  did  not  the 
tyranny  of  Persia  cry  aloud  for  de- 
struction? Did  not  Rome  break  the 

[12] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

yoke  of  the  East,  and  does  not  the 
yoke  of  Rome  lie  heavy  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  the  world?  Listen!" 

There  was  silence  for  a  moment  on 
the  slopes  of  Peacefield,  and  then 
over  the  encircling  hills  a  cool  wind 
brought  the  sound  of  chains  clanking 
in  prisons  and  galleys,  the  sighing  of 
millions  of  slaves,  the  weeping  of 
wretched  women  and  children,  the 
blows  of  hammers  nailing  men  to 
their  crosses.  Then  the  sound  passed 
by  with  the  wind,  and  Uriel  spoke 
again : 

"Power  corrupts  itself,  and  might 
cannot  save.  The  Earth  is  full  of  ig- 
norant strife,  and  for  this  evil  there 
is  no  cure  but  by  the  giving  of 
greater  knowledge.  It  is  because  men 
do  not  understand  evil  that  they  yield 
themselves  to  its  power.  Wickedness 

[13] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

is  folly  in  action,  and  injustice  is  the 
error  of  the  blind.  It  is  because  men 
are  ignorant  that  they  destroy  one 
another,  and  at  last  themselves. 

"If  there  were  more  light  in  the 
world  there  would  be  no  sorrow.  If 
the  great  King  who  knows  all  things 
would  enlighten  the  world  with  wis- 
dom— wisdom  to  understand  his  law 
and  his  ways,  to  read  the  secrets  of 
the  earth  and  the  stars,  to  discern  the 
workings  of  the  heart  of  man  and 
the  things  that  make  for  joy  and 
peace — if  he  would  but  send  us,  his 
messengers,  as  a  flame  of  fire  to  shine 
upon  those  who  sit  in  darkness,  how 
gladly  would  we  go  to  bring  in  the 
new  day! 

"We  would  speak  the  word  of 
warning  and  counsel  to  the  erring, 
and  tell  knowledge  to  the  perplexed. 

[14] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

We  would  guide  the  ignorant  in  the 
paths  of  prudence,  and  the  young 
would  sit  at  our  feet  and  hear  us 
gladly  in  the  school  of  life.  Then 
folly  would  fade  away  as  the  morn- 
ing vapour,  and  the  sun  of  wisdom 
would  shine  on  all  men,  and  the  peace 
of  God  would  come  with  the  counsel 
of  the  angels." 

A  murmur  of  pleasure  followed  the 
words  of  Uriel,  and  eager  looks 
flashed  around  the  circle  of  the  mes- 
sengers of  light  as  they  heard  the 
praise  of  wisdom  fitly  spoken.  But 
there  was  one  among  them  on  whose 
face  a  shadow  of  doubt  rested,  and 
though  he  smiled,  it  was  as  if  he  re- 
membered something  that  the  others 
had  forgotten.  He  turned  to  an  angel 
near  him. 

"Who  was  it,"  said  he,  "to  whom 

[15] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

you  were  sent  with  counsel  long  ago? 
Was  it  not  Balaam  the  son  of  Beor, 
as  he  was  riding  to  meet  the  King  of 
Moab?  And  did  not  even  the  dumb 
beast  profit  more  by  your  instruction 
than  the  man  who  rode  him?  And 
who  was  it,"  he  continued,  turning  to 
Uriel,  "that  was  called  the  wisest  of 
all  men,  having  searched  out  and  un- 
derstood the  many  inventions  that 
are  found  under  the  sun?  Was  not 
Solomon,  prince  of  fools  and  philoso- 
phers, unable  by  much  learning  to 
escape  weariness  of  the  flesh  and  de- 
spair of  the  spirit?  Knowledge  also 
is  vanity  and  vexation.  This  I  know 
well,  because  I  have  dwelt  among 
men  and  held  converse  with  them 
since  the  day  when  I  was  sent  to  in- 
struct the  first  man  in  Eden." 
Then  I  looked  more  closely  at  him 

[16] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

who  was  speaking  and  recognised  the 
beauty  of  the  archangel  Raphael,  as 
it  was  pictured  long  ago: 

"  A   seraph  winged ;   six  wings  he  wore  to 

shade 

His  lineaments  divine ;  the  pair  that  clad 
Each  shoulder  broad  came  mantling'  o'er  his 

breast, 

With  regal  ornament  ,•  the  middle  pair 
Girt  like  a  starry  zone  his  waist,  and  round 
Skirted  his  loins  and  thighs  with  downy  gold 
And  colours  dipped  in  Heav'n ;    the  third 

his  feet 
Shadowed  from  either  heel  with  feathered 

mail, 
Sky -tinctured  grain.     Like  Maia's  son  he 

stood 

And  shook  his  plumes,  that  Heavenly  fra- 
grance Jilled 
The  circuit  wide." 

"Too  well  I  know,"  he  spoke  on, 
while  the  smile  on  his  face  deepened 
into  a  look  of  pity  and  tenderness 

[17] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

and  desire,  "too  well  I  know  that 
power  corrupts  itself  and  that  knowl- 
edge cannot  save.  There  is  no  cure 
for  the  evil  that  is  in  the  world  but 
by  the  giving  of  more  love  to  men. 
The  laws  that  are  ordained  for  earth 
are  strange  and  unequal,  and  the 
ways  where  men  must  walk  are  full 
of  pitfalls  and  dangers.  Pestilence 
creeps  along  the  ground  and  flows  in 
the  rivers;  whirlwind  and  tempest 
shake  the  habitations  of  men  and 
drive  their  ships  to  destruction;  fire 
breaks  forth  from  the  mountains  and 
the  foundations  of  the  world  tremble. 
Frail  is  the  flesh  of  man,  and  many 
are  his  pains  and  troubles.  His  chil- 
dren can  never  find  peace  until  they 
learn  to  love  one  another  and  to  help 
one  another. 
"Wickedness  is  begotten  by  disease 

[18] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

and  misery.  Violence  comes  from 
poverty  and  hunger.  The  cruelty  of 
oppression  is  when  the  strong  tread 
the  weak  under  their  feet;  the  bitter- 
ness of  pride  is  when  the  wise  and 
learned  despise  the  simple ;  the  crown 
of  folly  is  when  the  rich  think  they 
are  gods,  and  the  poor  think  that 
God  is  not. 

"Hatred  and  envy  and  contempt 
are  the  curse  of  life.  And  for  these 
there  is  no  remedy  save  love — the 
will  to  give  and  to  bless — the  will  of 
the  King  himself,  who  gives  to  all 
and  is  loving  unto  every  man.  But 
how  shall  the  hearts  of  men  be  won 
to  this  will?  How  shall  it  enter  into 
them  and  possess  them?  Even  the 
gods  that  men  fashion  for  themselves 
are  cruel  and  proud  and  false  and 
unjust.  How  shall  the  miracle  be 

[19] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

wrought  in  human  nature  to  reveal 
the  meaning  of  humanity?  How  shall 
men  be  made  like  God?" 

At  this  question  a  deep  hush  fell 
around  the  circle,  and  every  listener 
was  still,  even  as  the  rustling  leaves 
hang  motionless  when  the  light  breeze 
falls  away  in  the  hour  of  sunset. 
Then  through  the  silence,  like  the 
song  of  a  far-away  thrush  from  its 
hermitage  in  the  forest,  a  voice  came 
ringing:  "I  know  it,  I  know  it,  I 
know  it." 

Clear  and  sweet — clear  as  a  ray  of 
light,  sweeter  than  the  smallest  silver 
bell  that  rang  the  hour  of  rest — was 
that  slender  voice  floating  on  the 
odorous  and  translucent  air.  Nearer 
and  nearer  it  came,  echoing  down  the 
valley,  "I  know  it,  I  know  it,  I  know 
it!"  * 

[20] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

Then  from  between  the  rounded 
hills,  among  which  the  brook  of 
Brighthopes  is  born,  appeared  a 
young  angel,  a  little  child,  with  fly- 
ing hair  of  gold,  and  green  wreaths 
twined  about  his  shoulders,  and  flut- 
tering hands  that  played  upon  the 
air  and  seemed  to  lift  him  so  lightly 
that  he  had  no  need  of  wings.  As 
thistle-down,  blown  by  the  wind, 
dances  across  the  water,  so  he  came 
along  the  little  stream,  singing  clear 
above  the  murmur  of  the  brook. 

All  the  angels  rose  and  turned  to 
look  at  him  with  wondering  eyes. 
Multitudes  of  others  came  flying 
swiftly  to  the  place  from  which  the 
strange,  new  song  was  sounding. 
Rank  within  rank,  like  a  garden  of 
living  flowers,  they  stood  along  the 
sloping  banks  of  the  brook  while  the 

[21] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

child-angel  floated  into  the  midst  of 
them,  singing: 

"I  know  it,  I  know  it,  I  know  it! 
Man  shall  be  made  like  God  because 
the  Son  of  God  shall  become  a  man." 

At  this  all  the  angels  looked  at  one 
another  with  amazement,  and  gath- 
ered more  closely  about  the  child- 
angel,  as  those  who  hear  wonderful 
news. 

"How  can  this  be?"  they  asked. 
"How  is  it  possible  that  the  Son  of 
God  should  be  a  man?" 

"I  do  not  know,"  said  the  young 
angel.  "I  only  know  that  it  is  to  be." 

"But  if  he  becomes  a  man,"  said 
Raphael,  "he  will  be  at  the  mercy  of 
men;  the  cruel  and  the  wicked  will 
have  power  upon  him;  he  will  suffer." 

"I  know  it,"  answered  the  young 
angel,  "and  by  suffering  he  will  un- 

[22] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

derstand  the  meaning  of  all  sorrow 
and  pain ;  and  he  will  be  able  to  com- 
fort every  one  who  cries ;  and  his  own 
tears  will  be  for  the  healing  of  sad 
hearts;  and  those  who  are  healed  by 
him  will  learn  for  his  sake  to  be  kind 
to  each  other." 

"But  if  the  Son  of  God  is  a  true 
man,"  said  Uriel,  "he  must  first  be  a 
child,  simple,  and  lowly,  and  helpless. 
It  may  be  that  he  will  never  gain  the 
learning  of  the  schools.  The  masters 
of  earthly  wisdom  will  despise  him 
and  speak  scorn  of  him." 

"I  know  it,"  said  the  young  angel, 
"but  in  meekness  will  he  answer 
them;  and  to  those  who  become  as 
little  children  he  will  give  the  heav- 
enly wisdom  that  comes,  without  seek- 
ing, to  the  pure  and  gentle  of  heart." 

"But  if  he  becomes  a  man,"  said 

[23] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

Michael,  "evil  men  will  hate  and 
persecute  him:  they  may  even  take 
his  life,  if  they  are  stronger  than  he." 

"I  know  it,"  answered  the  young 
angel,  "they  will  nail  him  to  a  cross. 
But  when  he  is  lifted  up,  he  will 
draw  all  men  unto  him,  for  he  will 
still  be  the  Son  of  God,  and  no  heart 
that  is  open  to  love  can  help  loving 
him,  since  his  love  for  men  is  so  great 
that  he  is  willing  to  die  for  them." 

"But  how  do  you  know  these 
things?"  cried  the  other  angels. 
"Who  are  you?" 

"I  am  the  Christmas  angel,"  he  said. 
"At  first  I  was  sent  as  the  dream  of 
a  little  child,  a  holy  child,  blessed  and 
wonderful,  to  dwell  in  the  heart  of 
a  pure  virgin,  Mary  of  Nazareth. 
There  I  was  hidden  till  the  word 
came  to  call  me  back  to  the  throne 

[24] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

of  the  King,  and  tell  me  my  name, 
and  give  me  my  new  message. 
For  this  is  Christmas  day  on  Earth, 
and  to-day  the  Son  of  God  is  born 
of  a  woman.  So  I  must  fly  quickly, 
before  the  sun  rises,  to  bring  the 
good  news  to  those  happy  men  who 
have  been  chosen  to  receive  them." 

As  he  said  this,  the  young  angel 
rose,  with  arms  outspread,  from  the 
green  meadow  of  Peacefield  and, 
passing  over  the  bounds  of  Heaven, 
dropped  swiftly  as  a  shooting-star 
toward  the  night  shadow  of  the 
Earth.  The  other  angels  followed 
him — a  throng  of  dazzling  forms, 
beautiful  as  a  rain  of  jewels  falling 
from  the  dark-blue  sky.  But  the 
child-angel  went  more  swiftly  than 
the  others,  because  of  the  certainty 
of  gladness  in  his  heart. 

[25] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

And  as  the  others  followed  him  they 
wondered  who  had  been  favoured  and 
chosen  to  receive  the  glad  tidings. 

"It  must  be  the  Emperor  of  the 
World  and  his  counsellors,"  they 
thought.  But  the  flight  passed  over 
Rome. 

"It  may  be  the  philosophers  and  the 
masters  of  learning,"  they  thought. 
But  the  flight  passed  over  Athens. 

"Can  it  be  the  High  Priest  of  the 
Jews,  and  the  elders  and  the  scribes?" 
they  thought.  But  the  flight  passed 
over  Jerusalem. 

It  floated  out  over  the  hill  country 
of  Bethlehem;  the  throng  of  silent 
angels  holding  close  together,  as  if 
perplexed  and  doubtful;  the  child- 
angel  darting  on  far  in  advance,  as 
one  who  knew  the  way  through  the 
darkness. 

[26] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

The  villages  were  all  still:  the  very 
houses  seemed  asleep;  but  in  one 
place  there  was  a  low  sound  of  talk- 
ing in  a  stable,  near  to  an  inn — a 
sound  as  of  a  mother  soothing  her 
baby  to  rest. 

All  over  the  pastures  on  the  hillsides 
a  light  film  of  snow  had  fallen,  deli- 
cate as  the  veil  of  a  bride  adorned  for 
the  marriage;  and  as  the  child-angel 
passed  over  them,  alone  in  the  swift- 
ness of  his  flight,  the  pure  fields 
sparkled  round  him,  giving  back  his 
radiance. 

And  there  were  in  that  country 
shepherds  abiding  in  the  fields,  keep- 
ing watch  over  their  flocks  by  night. 
And  lo!  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came 
upon  them,  and  the  glory  of  the 
Lord  shone  round  about  them,  and 
they  were  sore  afraid.  And  the  angel 

[27] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

said  unto  them:  "Fear  not;  for  be- 
hold I  bring  you  glad  tidings  of 
great  joy  which  shall  be  to  all  na- 
tions. For  unto  you  is  born  this  day, 
in  the  city  of  David,  a  Saviour,  which 
is  Christ  the  Lord.  And  this  shall  be 
a  sign  unto  you ;  ye  shall  find  the  babe 
wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  lying 
in  a  manger." 

And  suddenly  there  was  with  the 
angel  a  multitude  of  the  heavenly 
host,  praising  God  and  saying: 
"Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and 
on  earth  peace,  good-will  toward 
men."  And  the  shepherds  said  one 
to  another:  "Let  us  now  go,  even  to 
Bethlehem,  and  see  this  thing  which 
is  come  to  pass." 

So  I  said  within  myself  that  I  also 
would  go  with  the  shepherds,  even  to 
Bethlehem.  And  I  heard  a  great  and 

[28] 


THE  CHRISTMAS  ANGEL 

sweet  voice,  as  of  a  bell,  which  said, 
"Come!"  And  when  the  bell  had 
sounded  twelve  times,  I  awoke;  and 
it  was  Christmas  morn;  and  I  knew 
that  I  had  been  in  a  dream. 

Yet  it  seemed  to  me  that  the  things 
which  I  had  heard  were  true. 


[29] 


A  LITTLE  ESSAY 


CHRISTMAS-GIVING  AND 
CHRISTMAS-LIVING 

i 

THE  custom  of  exchanging  presents 
on  a  certain  day  in  the  year  is  very 
much  older  than  Christmas,  and 
means  very  much  less.  It  has  ob- 
tained in  almost  all  ages  of  the  world, 
and  among  many  different  nations. 
It  is  a  fine  thing  or  a  foolish  thing, 
as  the  case  may  be;  an  encourage- 
ment to  friendliness,  or  a  tribute  to 
fashion;  an  expression  of  good  na- 
ture, or  a  bid  for  favour;  an  outgo- 
ing of  generosity,  or  a  disguise  of 
greed;  a  cheerful  old  custom,  or  a 
futile  old  farce,  according  to  the 

[33] 


CHRISTMAS-GIVING 

spirit  which  animates  it  and  the  form 
which  it  takes. 

But  when  this  ancient  and  variously 
interpreted  tradition  of  a  day  of 
gifts  was  transferred  to  the  Christ- 
mas season,  it  was  brought  into  vital 
contact  with  an  idea  which  must 
transform  it,  and  with  an  example 
which  must  lift  it  up  to  a  higher 
plane.  The  example  is  the  life  of 
Jesus.  The  idea  is  unselfish  interest 
in  the  happiness  of  others. 

The  great  gift  of  Jesus  to  the  world 
was  himself.  He  lived  with  and  for 
men.  He  kept  back  nothing.  In  every 
particular  and  personal  gift  that  he 
made  to  certain  people  there  was 
something  of  himself  that  made  it 
precious. 

For  example,  at  the  wedding  in 
Cana  of  Galilee,  it  was  his  thought 

[34] 


AND  CHRISTMAS-LIVING 

for  the  feelings  of  the  giver  of  the 
feast,  and  his  wish  that  every  guest 
should  find  due  entertainment,  that 
lent  the  flavour  of  a  heavenly  hospi- 
tality to  the  wine  which  he  provided. 

When  he  gave  bread  and  fish  to 
the  hungry  multitude  who  had  fol- 
lowed him  out  among  the  hills  by  the 
Lake  of  Gennesaret,  the  people  were 
refreshed  and  strengthened  by  the 
sense  of  the  personal  care  of  Jesus 
for  their  welfare,  as  much  as  by  the 
food  which  he  bestowed  upon  them. 
It  was  another  illustration  of  the 
sweetness  of  "a  dinner  of  herbs, 
where  love  is." 

The  gifts  of  healing  which  he  con- 
ferred upon  many  different  kinds  of 
sufferers  were,  in  every  case,  evi- 
dences that  Jesus  was  willing  to 
give  something  of  himself,  his 

[35] 


CHRISTMAS-GIVING 

thought,  his  sympathy,  his  vital 
power,  to  the  men  and  women  among 
whom  he  lived.  Once,  when  a  par- 
alytic was  brought  to  Jesus  on  a  bed, 
he  surprised  everybody,  and  offended 
many,  by  giving  the  poor  wretch  the 
pardon  of  his  sins,  before  he  gave 
new  life  to  his  body.  That  was  just 
because  Jesus  thought  before  he 
gave;  because  he  desired  to  satisfy 
the  deepest  need;  because  in  fact 
he  gave  something  of  himself  in 
every  gift.  All  true  Christmas-giv- 
ing ought  to  be  after  this  pattern. 

Not  that  it  must  all  be  solemn  and 
serious.  For  the  most  part  it  deals 
with  little  wants,  little  joys,  little 
tokens  of  friendly  feeling.  But  the 
feeling  must  be  more  than  the  token ; 
else  the  gift  does  not  really  belong 
to  Christmas. 

[36] 


AND  CHRISTMAS-LIVING 

It  takes  time  and  effort  and  unsel- 
fish expenditure  of  strength  to  make 
gifts  in  this  way.  But  it  is  the  only 
way  that  fits  the  season. 

The  finest  Christmas  gift  is  not  the 
one  that  costs  the  most  money,  but 
the  one  that  carries  the  most  love. 

ii 

But  how  seldom  Christmas  comes — 
only  once  a  year;  and  how  soon  it  is 
over — a  night  and  a  day!  If  that  is 
the  whole  of  it,  it  seems  not  much 
more  durable  than  the  little  toys  that 
one  buys  of  a  fakir  on  the  street- 
corner.  They  run  for  an  hour,  and 
then  the  spring  breaks,  and  the  legs 
come  off,  and  nothing  remains  but  a 
contribution  to  the  dust  heap. 

But  surely  that  need  not  and  ought 
not  to  be  the  whole  of  Christmas 

[37] 


CHRISTMAS-GIVING 

— only  a  single  day  of  generosity, 
ransomed  from  the  dull  servitude  of 
a  selfish  year, — only  a  single  night 
of  merry-making,  celebrated  in  the 
slave-quarters  of  a  selfish  race!  If 
every  gift  is  the  token  of  a  per- 
sonal thought,  a  friendly  feeling,  an 
unselfish  interest  in  the  joy  of  others, 
then  the  thought,  the  feeling,  the  in- 
terest, may  remain  after  the  gift  is 
made. 

The  little  present,  or  the  rare  and 
long-wished-for  gift  (it  matters  not 
whether  the  vessel  be  of  gold,  or 
silver,  or  iron,  or  wood,  or  clay,  or 
just  a  small  bit  of  birch  bark  folded 
into  a  cup),  may  carry  a  message 
something  like  this : 

"I  am  thinking  of  you  to-day,  be- 
cause it  is  Christmas,  and  I  wish  you 
happiness.  And  to-morrow,  because  it 

[38] 


AND  CHRISTMAS-LIVING 

will  be  the  day  after  Christmas,  I 
shall  still  wish  you  happiness;  and  so 
on,  clear  through  the  year.  I  may  not 
be  able  to  tell  you  about  it  every  day, 
because  I  may  be  far  away;  or  be- 
cause both  of  us  may  be  very  busy;  or 
perhaps  because  I  cannot  even  afford 
to  pay  the  postage  on  so  many  let- 
ters, or  find  the  time  to  write  them. 
But  that  makes  no  difference.  The 
thought  and  the  wish  will  be  here 
just  the  same.  In  my  work  and  in 
the  business  of  life,  I  mean  to  try 
not  to  be  unfair  to  you  or  injure  you 
in  any  way.  In  my  pleasure,  if  we 
can  be  together,  I  would  like  to  share 
the  fun  with  you.  Whatever  joy  or 
success  comes  to  you  will  make  me 
glad.  Without  pretense,  and  in  plain 
words,  good-will  to  you  is  what  I 
mean,  in  the  Spirit  of  Christmas.' 

[39] 


CHRISTMAS-GIVING 

It  is  not  necessary  to  put  a  message 
like  this  into  high-flown  language, 
to  swear  absolute  devotion  and  death- 
less consecration.  In  love  and  friend- 
ship, small,  steady  payments  on  a 
gold  basis  are  better  than  immense 
promissory  notes.  Nor,  indeed,  is  it 
always  necessary  to  put  the  message 
into  words  at  all,  nor  even  to  convey 
it  by  a  tangible  token.  To  feel  it  and 
to  act  it  out — that  is  the  main  thing. 

There  are  a  great  many  people  in 
the  world  whom  we  know  more  or 
less,  but  to  whom  for  various  reasons 
we  cannot  very  well  send  a  Christ- 
mas gift.  But  there  is  hardly  one,  in 
all  the  circles  of  our  acquaintance, 
with  whom  we  may  not  exchange  the 
touch  of  Christmas  life. 

In  the  outer  circles,  cheerful  greet- 
ings, courtesy,  consideration;  in  the 

[40] 


AND  CHRISTMAS-LIVING 

inner  circles,  sympathetic  interest, 
hearty  congratulations,  honest  en- 
couragement; in  the  inmost  circle, 
comradeship,  helpfulness,  tender- 
ness,— 

"  Beautiful  friendship  tried  by  sun  and  wind 
Durable  from  the  daily  dust  of  life." 

After  all,   Christmas-living  is  the 
best  kind  of  Christmas-giving. 


[41] 


A    SHORT 
CHRISTMAS    SERMON 


KEEPING    CHRISTMAS 

ROMANS,  xiv,  6:  He  that  regardeth  the  day,  regardeth 
it  unto  the  Lord, 

IT  is  a  good  thing  to  observe  Christ- 
mas day.  The  mere  marking  of  times 
and  seasons,  when  men  agree  to  stop 
work  and  make  merry  together,  is  a 
wise  and  wholesome  custom.  It  helps 
one  to  feel  the  supremacy  of  the 
common  life  over  the  individual  life. 
It  reminds  a  man  to  set  his  own  little 
watch,  now  and  then,  by  the  great 
clock  of  humanity  which  runs  on  sun 
time. 

But  there  is  a  better  thing  than  the 
observance  of  Christmas  day,  and 
that  is,  keeping  Christmas. 

[45] 


KEEPING  CHRISTMAS 

Are  you  willing  to  forget  what  you 
have  done  for  other  people,  and  to 
remember  what  other  people  have 
done  for  you;  to  ignore  what  the 
world  owes  you,  and  to  think  what 
you  owe  the  world ;  to  put  your  rights 
in  the  background,  and  your  duties 
in  the  middle  distance,  and  your 
chances  to  do  a  little  more  than  your 
duty  in  the  foreground;  to  see  that 
your  fellow-men  are  just  as  real  as 
you  are,  and  try  to  look  behind  their 
faces  to  their  hearts,  hungry  for  joy; 
to  own  that  probably  the  only  good 
reason  for  your  existence  is  not  what 
you  are  going  to  get  out  of  life,  but 
what  you  are  going  to  give  to  life; 
to  close  your  book  of  complaints 
against  the  management  of  the  uni- 
verse, and  look  around  you  for  a 
place  where  you  can  sow  a  few  seeds 

[46] 


KEEPING  CHRISTMAS 

of  happiness — are  you  willing  to  do 
these  things  even  for  a  day?  Then 
you  can  keep  Christmas. 

Are  you  willing  to  stoop  down  and 
consider  the  needs  and  the  desires 
of  little  children;  to  remember  the 
weakness  and  loneliness  of  people 
who  are  growing  old;  to  stop  asking 
how  much  your  friends  love  you,  and 
ask  yourself  whether  you  love  them 
enough;  to  bear  in  mind  the  things 
that  other  people  have  to  bear  on 
their  hearts;  to  try  to  understand 
what  those  who  live  in  the  same  house 
with  you  really  want,  without  wait- 
ing for  them  to  tell  you ;  to  trim  your 
lamp  so  that  it  will  give  more  light 
and  less  smoke,  and  to  carry  it  in 
front  so  that  your  shadow  will  fall 
behind  you ;  to  make  a  grave  for  your 
ugly  thoughts,  and  a  garden  for 

[47] 


KEEPING  CHRISTMAS 

your  kindly  feelings,  with  the  gate 
open — are  you  willing  to  do  these 
things  even  for  a  day?  Then  you  can 
keep  Christmas. 

Are  you  willing  to  believe  that  love 
is  the  strongest  thing  in  the  world- 
stronger  than  hate,  stronger  than 
evil,  stronger  than  death — and  that 
the  blessed  life  which  began  in  Beth- 
lehem nineteen  hundred  years  ago 
is  the  image  and  brightness  of  the 
Eternal  Love?  Then  you  can  keep 
Christmas. 

And  if  you  keep  it  for  a  day,  why 
not  always? 

But  you  can  never  keep  it  alone. 


[48] 


TWO    CHRISTMAS 
PRAYERS 


A  CHRISTMAS  PRAYER 
FOR   THE    HOME 

FATHER  OF  ALL  MEN,  look  upon  our 

family, 

Kneeling  together  before  Thee, 
And  grant  us  a  true  Christmas. 

\ViTH  loving  heart  we  bless  Thee: 
For  the  gift  of   Thy   dear   Son 

Jesus  Christ, 
For  the  peace  He  brings  to  human 

homes, 
For  the  good-will  He  teaches  to 

sinful  men, 
For  the  glory  of  Thy  goodness 

shining  in  His  face. 

[51] 


CHRISTMAS  PRAYERS 

With  joyful  voice  we  praise  Thee: 

For  His  lowly  birth  and  His  rest 
in  the  manger, 

For  the  pure  tenderness  of  His 
mother  Mary, 

For  the   fatherly  care   that  pro- 
tected Him, 

For  the  Providence  that  saved  the 

Holy  Child 
To  be  the  Saviour  of  the  world. 

With  deep  desire  we  beseech  Thee: 
Help    us    to   keep    His   birthday 

truly, 

Help  us  to  offer,  in  His  name,  our 
Christmas  prayer. 

FROM  the  sickness  of  sin  and  the 

darkness  of  doubt, 
From    selfish   pleasures   and   sullen 

pains, 

[52] 


CHRISTMAS  PRAYERS 

From  the  frost  of  pride  and  the  fever 

of  envy, 

God  save  us  every  one,  through  the 
blessing  of  Jesus. 

In  the  health  of  purity  and  the  calm 

of  mutual  trust, 
In  the  sharing  of  joy  and  the  bearing 

of  trouble, 
In  the  steady  glow  of  love  and  the 

clear  light  of  hope, 
God  keep  us  every  one,  by  the 

blessing  of  Jesus. 

In  praying  and  praising,  in  giving 

and  receiving, 
In  eating  and  drinking,  in  singing 

and  making  merry, 
In  parents'  gladness  and  in  children's 

mirth, 
In  dear  memories  of  those  who  have 

departed, 

[53] 


CHRISTMAS  PRAYERS 

In  good  comradeship  with  those  who 
are  here, 

In  kind  wishes  for  those  who  are  far 
away, 

In  patient  waiting,   sweet  content- 
ment, generous  cheer, 
God  bless  us  every  one,  with  the 
blessing  of  Jesus. 

By  remembering  our  kinship  with  all 
men, 

By  well-wishing,  friendly  speaking 
and  kindly  doing, 

By  cheering  the  downcast  and  adding 
sunshine  to  daylight, 

By  welcoming  strangers  (poor  shep- 
herds or  wise  men) , 

By  keeping  the  music  of  the  angels' 

song  in  this  home, 
God  help  us  every  one  to  share  the 
blessing  of  Jesus : 

[54] 


CHRISTMAS  PRAYERS 

In  whose  name  we  keep  Christ- 
mas: 

And  in  whose  words  we  pray 
together : 

Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be 
Thy  name. 

Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done  in 
earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven. 

Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread.  4  nd  for- 
give us  our  debts,  as  we  forgive  our 
debtors. 

And  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver 
us  from  evil: 

For  Thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and 
the  glory,  forever.  Amen. 


[55] 


LORD  GOD  of  the  solitary, 
Look  upon  me  in  my  loneliness. 
Since  I  may  not  keep  this  Christmas 

in  the  home, 
Send  it  into  my  heart. 

LET  not  my  sins  cloud  me  in, 

But  shine  through  them  with  for- 
giveness in  the  face  of  the 
child  Jesus. 

Put  me  in  loving  remembrance  of 
the  lowly  lodging  in  the  stable 
of  Bethlehem, 

The  sorrows  of  the  blessed  Mary,  the 
poverty  and  exile  of  the 
Prince  of  Peace. 

[56] 


CHRISTMAS  PRAYERS 

For  His  sake,  give  me  a  cheerful 
courage  to  endure  my  lot, 

And  an  inward  comfort  to  sweet- 
en it. 

PURGE    my    heart    from   hard    and 

bitter  thoughts. 
Let  no  shadow  of  forgetting  come 

between  me  and  friends  far 

away: 

Bless  them  in  their  Christmas  mirth: 
Hedge  me  in  with  faithfulness, 
That  I  may  not  grow  unworthy  to 

meet  them  again. 

GIVE  me  good  work  to  do, 

That    I    may    forget    myself    and 

find   peace   in    doing    it    for 

Thee. 
Though  I  am  poor,  send  me  to  carry 

some  gift  to  those  who   are 

poorer, 

[57] 


CHRISTMAS  PRAYERS 

Some  cheer  to  those  who  are  more 

lonely. 
Grant  me  the  joy  to  do  a  kindness 

to  one  of  Thy  little  ones: 
Light  my  Christmas   candle  at  the 

gladness  of  an  innocent  and 

grateful  heart. 

STRANGE   is   the   path   where   Thou 

leadest  me: 
Let  me  not  doubt  Thy  wisdom,  nor 

lose  Thy  hand. 
Make  me  sure  that  Eternal  Love  is 

revealed  in  Jesus,   Thy  dear 

Son, 
To  save  us  from  sin  and  solitude  and 

death. 

Teach  me  that  I  am  not  alone, 
But  that  many  hearts,  all  round  the 

world, 
Join  with   me   through   the   silence, 

while  I  pray  in  His  name: 

[58] 


CHRISTMAS  PRAYERS 

Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be 
Thy  name. 

Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done  in 
earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven. 

Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread.  And  for- 
give us  our  debts,  as  we  forgive  our 
debtors. 

And  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver 
us  from  evil: 

For  Thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and 
the  glory,  forever.  Amen. 


[59] 


18878 


